New Delhi: With just days to go before its first anniversary, the government of Arvind Kejriwal is battling the charge that the corruption of one of its ministers has been cogently illustrated by a secretly-recorded video.
At a press conference today, Congress leader screened a sting that allegedly shows an aide of Environment Minister Imran Hussain asking for Rs 25 lakh from a builder to grant environmental clearances.
Mr Hussain has flat out denied the charges, saying the bribe-seeker seen in the video is a stranger. (NDTV cannot verify the authenticity of the video).
As a component of his defense, Mr Hussain also alleged that it's Mr Maken of the Congress who has been paid off to manufacture the "sting."
"If Maken can prove any of my staff or family member is involved in the sting, I will leave politics," said Mr Hussain. He said he welcomes the Congressman's call for a CBI inquiry as long as it also includes Mr Maken's role.
Ironically, Mr Hussain's predecessor in the Environment Ministry was fired in October over alleged venality. At a televised press conference, Chief Minister Kejriwal had dismissed the minister after playing audio tapes that had him asking for a kickback of Rs 6 lakh from a builder in exchange for allowing him to break construction laws.
Mr Kejriwal said the dismissal evidenced his government's "zero-tolerance" for any sort of graft.
Congress leaders say that the new controversy including Mr Hussain expose the double-speak of Mr Kejriwal, who completes a year in office on Sunday.
At a press conference today, Congress leader screened a sting that allegedly shows an aide of Environment Minister Imran Hussain asking for Rs 25 lakh from a builder to grant environmental clearances.
Mr Hussain has flat out denied the charges, saying the bribe-seeker seen in the video is a stranger. (NDTV cannot verify the authenticity of the video).
"If Maken can prove any of my staff or family member is involved in the sting, I will leave politics," said Mr Hussain. He said he welcomes the Congressman's call for a CBI inquiry as long as it also includes Mr Maken's role.
Advertisement
Mr Kejriwal said the dismissal evidenced his government's "zero-tolerance" for any sort of graft.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
AAP vs BJP On Corruption In Delhi Flood Department, Payment To Contractors Jailed AAP Leader Satyendar Jain's Interim Bail Extended By 5 Weeks Delhi People Asked For "Pathshala", AAP Gave Them "Madhushala": BJP Israeli Jets Strike Yemen Rebels After Deadly Attack On Tel Aviv Woman On Scooter With 2 Kids Punched, Left Bleeding In Pune Road Rage Case After Retest, Haryana NEET Centre With Most Top Scorers Gave This Result... Imran Khan Being Kept In Filthy Circumstances In Jail, Says His Wife: Report 7 Bombs Defused In Imphal East District By Joint Army, Police Team 3.5-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Jammu And Kashmir Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.